LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – The director of the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center says cancer death rates nationwide have reached a 30-year low, citing decades of investment in prevention, screening and treatment.
Dr. Mark Evers, who has worked in oncology for several decades, recently wrote an op-ed in the Lexington Herald-Leader highlighting the milestone. He said the overall cancer death rate has been declining since 1991, driven he says by expanded prevention efforts and new treatments.
Screenings and early detection
Just to name a few, Dr. Evers said screenings for breast, colon and lung cancers have played a role in detecting the disease earlier.
“I try to make sure our patients really understand that screening can save not only their time, their lives, but also their money,” said Dr. Evers.
Clinical trials across Kentucky
Markey Cancer Center holds a national Comprehensive Cancer Center designation and collaborates with other cancer centers across the country to develop treatments. Dr. Evers said patients from 110 of Kentucky’s 120 counties enrolled in clinical trials last year…